Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Name: Continuum of Care Program
Assistance Listing Number: 14.267
Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Multiple
Pass-Through Agency: Hearth Connection
Pass-Through Number(s): Multiple
Award Period: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance
Criteria or specific requirement: Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 578.49(b)(2) requires that when grants are used to pay rent for individual housing units, the rent paid must be reasonable in relation to rents being charged for comparable units, taking into account the location, size, type, quality, amenities, facilities, and management services. In addition, the rents may not exceed rents currently being charged for comparable units, and the rent paid may not exceed HUD-determined fair market rents.
Condition: The Organization did not have evidence that a rental records review was performed to for an individual to ensure the contract rent being paid was comparable with those paid for unassisted units and that the portion of rents paid with grant funds do not exceed fair market values.
Questioned costs: None
Context: During our testing, we identified one out of twenty four persons tested, where the Organization did not have documented review of rental records to ensure the contract rent being paid was comparable with those paid for unassisted units and that the portion of rents paid with grant funds do not exceed fair market values.
Cause: The Organization did not document that a rental records review was performed.
Effect: The Organization is not in compliance with the federal requirement of checking rent reasonableness before admitting a participant.
Repeat Finding: No
Recommendation: We recommend the Organization evaluate its procedures and implement an additional control to document rental rate checks are occurring prior to entering into rental contract.
Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.